TERENCE AND PAMELA GOLDING FROM WITHAM SENTENCED FOR INDECENT ASSAULT AND CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Witham, Essex, a teenage girl was subjected to indecent assault and exploitation during a series of disturbing incidents at a residence in Greenfield. The girl, who was only 15 years old at the time, had initially gone to the house to perform a cleaning job. However, her visit took a sinister turn when she was persuaded by Terence Golding, aged 37, to pose for topless photographs, an act that was both inappropriate and illegal.

The court heard that the girl was initially willing to participate in the photo sessions, but the situation escalated when Terence Golding indecently assaulted her during one of these encounters. Meanwhile, Pamela Golding, aged 42, the wife of Terence, was present at the scene and took photographs of the girl, including one topless shot that she later showed to her sister and a boy, further compounding the seriousness of the case.

According to the proceedings at Chelmsford Crown Court, the girl was visibly shocked and distressed after the assault. Despite her trauma, she returned to the Golding residence on several occasions for additional photo sessions, indicating a troubling pattern of exploitation. The court was also informed that the girl shared one of the topless photographs with her sister and a male acquaintance, highlighting the ongoing risk of the images spreading further.

Both Terence and Pamela Golding appeared before Judge Warwick McKinnon to face sentencing. Terence Golding pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including indecent assault, two counts of taking indecent photographs, and one count of distributing an indecent image. Pamela Golding admitted to a single charge of taking an indecent photograph. The judge sentenced Terence Golding to eight months in prison and Pamela Golding to three months. Additionally, the court ordered that Terence Golding be registered on the sex offenders register for ten years, while Pamela Golding would be on it for seven years. Given that both had been held on remand, they were expected to be released immediately following sentencing.

Prosecutor John Caudle outlined the case, stating that the girl had gone to the house early last year for a routine cleaning job but was quickly approached by Terence Golding with a request to pose for topless photographs. The situation worsened when Golding indecently assaulted her during one of these sessions, with Pamela Golding actively participating by taking photographs.

In mitigation, Craig Rush, representing Terence Golding, expressed that his client’s guilty pleas had spared the girl from the ordeal of giving evidence in court. Rush also noted that Golding was eager to move past these events and had since relocated from Essex to Dorset.

Rachel Jenkins, defending Pamela Golding, emphasized that there was no risk of her client engaging in similar conduct again, suggesting that she had learned from the incident and was unlikely to reoffend. The case has left a lasting impact on the community of Witham, raising concerns about the safety and protection of vulnerable minors in the area.